MONDAY AND ALL IS NOT WELL IN MY CALF NURSERY.

One of my main full time job at the farm is caring for the calves as you probably already know. One of the calves that was born with compromised  lungs wasn't eating well and was a pain to feed twice a day but finally after two weeks, a dramatic improvement happened today and he is finally eating well for a change.  That is one thing to be thankful for but the tiny twin bull calf that was born last week is not doing well since last evening and is running a fever. I fed him some medicine with water and he actually drank half the bottle which surprized me as he didn't want to drink last evening or this morning and didn't even want to stand. He was just like a little blob with fur and had to be forced fed the rest of the bottle. Usually I rarely have sick calves other than the occasional case of scour. They are fun to feed when all goes well but a pain when one gets sick. They are my babies and I care a lot that they be comfortable and clean.

When I walked back in the house after my barn chores I really noticed the pickle aroma in the air and it felt welcoming. My sister in law had droped in for a quick visit to pick up a batch of pickles for her friend and was being etertained by my husband while I took a quick shower. She went home with a bag full of zucchini, and pickles.

I have some monster zucchinis in the garden that I better pick soon. Time to round up my friends to see who wants giant zucchinis to make zucchini bread. My basil is in need to be harvested again to make pesto. I freeze my pesto pre-mix in small batches for use later. I wash and spin dry my basil leaves  and measure 4 cups well packed and put in my food processor and add one cup of extra virgin olive oil and give it a whirl and when fully made into a paste I pack it in 2 cups plastic freezer containers and when I need to make pesto, I simply thaw a container and add the rest of the ingredients and make my own organic pesto. Yum, yum... My favorite is Pesto Chicken Pizza.

Tonight I'm using the 10 minute challenge to start binding my rooster rug. Hurray for me.  JB

BEAUTIFUL SUNNY SUNDAY

My husband and I went to our usual restautent for our usual breakfast with friends before going to church this morning. I had mentioned to my friend Anne that I made some Lady Asburnham pickles the night before, to fill my order from the auction bid. She told me with dissapointment in her eyes that her cucumbers were not doing well and that she would have to buy some for her pickles. After I returned home and prepared the second double batch of  chopped cucumbers and onion  with salt to brime overnight, I check out the other cucumber patch and it was loaded  with huge cucumbers that I didn't need. With my husband's help we packed three large boxes  of cucumbers for my friend Anne. She and other women are making pickles for the church suppers. They make some for the Fall  Church Supper and the Spring Church Supper.

Today is a beautiful sunny day again and I've been inside most of the afternoon. I've prepared some delicious corn on the cob for our supper.